Identify the branding period
MTV’s typography has changed across different identity systems. For the 2021 refresh, designer Thomas Berger’s project account names a new gravity font and dates the launch to August 2021. Identify the year and application in your reference before assigning a typeface. An older channel graphic, a program title and a later corporate promotion need not share the same typographic system.
Follow the custom type commission
Type Network’s account identifies Gravity Grotesk as a commission from loyalkaspar for MTV’s anniversary rebranding. It credits Dyana Weissman and Victoria Rushton, with additional contributions from CSTM Fonts and Jacques le Bailly. The article emphasizes practical use across screen sizes. This supports a specific custom family attribution; it does not turn any bold sans serif used in a music graphic into the MTV font.
Separate the family from the logo system
Berger’s account describes a refreshed multicolor logo, patterns and the use of the M to frame content alongside the new typeface. Treat those as related but distinct parts of the identity. Compare a full promotional frame, noting which words are set as information and which shapes belong to the mark or imagery. A font generator that imitates the logo cannot reproduce the complete working typography system.
Research a specimen with its context intact
Keep a dated screenshot and identify whether it comes from channel branding, a show or a local promotion. Compare the complete text block at its intended size, including numerals and condensed text where present. For actual brand work, obtain the approved assets and instructions through the responsible team. For independent work, select a properly sourced family for your own message instead of assuming the commissioned MTV family is a public retail download. Use the image identification guide to keep the original specimen and the logo typography guide for a separate design workflow.
Your questions, answered.
What font was commissioned for MTV’s 2021 refresh?
The design participants identify the custom family as Gravity Grotesk.
Does Gravity Grotesk describe every historical MTV graphic?
No. The attribution concerns the documented refresh, and older or program-specific graphics require separate identification.
Sources & background
Sources supporting this page’s explanations. Practical examples are our editorial suggestions.